Wheel-grinding device



1930- b. c. MULVII;IILL 1,745,026

WHEEL GRINDING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 19, 192% 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Jan. 28, 1930. D. c. MULVIHILL vWHEEL GRINDING DEVICE Original FiledJan. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES DANIEL C. MULVIHILL, OF HANNIBAL,MISSOURI WHEEL-GRINDIN G DEVICE Original application filed January 19,1925, Seria1 No. 3,348. Divided and this application filed December20,1926. Serial No. 155,783.

This invention relates to grinding devices and more particularly tomeans for grinding portions of car wheels after the casting operation.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improvedmeans for simultaneously grinding the hubs and flanges of car wheels.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of new and improvedmeans for holding and rotating a car wheel while the same is beingoperated upon.

Another object of the invention is the pro.-

vision of new and improved means for conducting the wheel to and fromthe station where the grinding operation is performed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improvedmeans for holding and rotating the wheel together with means forgrinding the same that is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture,easily assembled, eflicient in operation, and that will accurately grindthe flange and hub of the wheel during the grinding operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the followingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevaton of the wheel cleaning andgrinding device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with parts broken away; and c Fig. 3 is aplan view of the mechamsm for rotating the wheel.

This application is a division of myapplication for wheel cleaningdevice, Serial No.

3,348, filed Jan. 19, 1925, and in which the brushingmechanism isclaimed;

Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference charactersdesignate the same parts throughout the drawings, reference numeral 10designates the frame of the device in which are journalled the shafts 11and 12, each of which carries a brush 13 for brushing both sides ofthewheel. The shafts 11 and J12-are operatedindependently from a countershaft 14 through the chainv gear 15. The shaftsll and 12 are slidablethrough their bearings-whereby the brushes 13 may be moved toward'andfrom the Wheel. Suit able means for simultaneously moving the brushesare provided. As shown this is acpivot 17, have their outer endspivotally connected to levers 21 and 22 respectfully, whereby theadjustment of the brushes may be effected by moving the lever 16.

The counter shaft 14 is suitably journalled in supports 23 mounted onthe frame 10. The shaftis operated from a motor 24 by suitable drivingmechanism such as worm gear 25.

The upper and lower tracks 26 and 27 are 9 provided for guiding thewheel 28 to the different stations. Each trackcomprises a pair of anglebars 29 and 31, see Fig. 3, held in spaced relation for engaging theflange 30 of the wheel and also arranged at an incline so that a wheelwill roll from one station to the next. It isnecessary that means beprovided for holdingthe wheel 28in position One manner during thebrushing operation. of accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 1. At thefront of the machine, or on the side on which the wheel enters-the same,a latch 32 is pivotally connected to the frame 10 and is adapted to beforced upwardly by the wheel as it rolls beneath the same. When thewheel passes beneath the same to a position to be operated upon,the-latch 32 will engage the periphery of the wheel and prevent the samefrom moving backward.

' A similar latch 33 is mounted at the rear end of'the frame and thesame is adapted to engagethe periphery or tread portion of the wheelforpreventing the forward movement of the said wheel. The latch 33 isprovided with rigid extension or bell crank 34, to which a pull rod 35is pivotally connected. Then the wheel 28 rolls beneath the latch 32, itwill come in contact with the latch 33, which will prevent its furthermovement until the pull rod 35 is moved forward for vided with asuitable lever 37 for operating the same.

Since the cleaning mechanism constitutes no part of the presentinvention, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describethe same.

Suitable mechanism is mounted atthe rear of the frame 10 forsimultaneously rough cleaning or facing the inner end of the hub and theflange of the wheel. The tracks 27 extend through the frame 10 to thegrinding mechanism. Suitable guides 38 are provided for guiding andholding the upper portion of the wheel. These guides are on each side ofthe wheel and below the periphery thereof, so that the flange of thewheel will extend above the same, in order that it may be ground as willpresently appear.

The mechanism forrough grinding or facing the inner end of the hub 39 ofthe wheel 28 will now be described. As shown this means comprises arotating grinder 41 which is rotated by a suitable motor 42 carried byframe 43. The grinder may be and preferably is mounted on the armatureshaft 44, as shown in Fig. 1. The frame 43 is pivotally and slidablymounted on a rod 45 secured adjacent to the lower track 27. The rod 45is located inwardly of the center of gravity of the motor 42 whereby,gravity will tend to hold the grinder 41 out of contact with the hub.The frame 43 is provided with a stop 46 which is adapted to engage thesill 47 for limiting the outward movement of the said frame. The frame43 is moved inwardly to bring the grinder 41 into engagement with thehub of the wheel by any suitable means, as by lever 48, rigidly securedto said frame. The frame is moved longitudinally of the rod by means ofthe lever 49. In the operation of the device, the lovers 4S and 49 aregrasped by the hands of the operator and are suitably moved to cause thegrinder 41 to engage all surfaces of the end of the hub 39 of the wheel28.

Suitable means are provided for causing the wheel to rotate in order toinsure even grinding of the end of the hub. Means are also provided forguiding the wheel during its rotation. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, of thedrawings, a means for rotating the wheel comprises a plurality ofrollers 51 and 52 having peripheral grooves 53 and 54, in alinenientwith the lower tracks 27 for engaging the flange 30 of the wheel. Inorder to cause the wheel to rotate, means are provided for rotating therollers 51 and As shown the roller 51 is rotated by means of a sprocket55, which is operated from the power shaft 14 by the flexible drive 56.Roller 52 is rotated by frictional contact with the wheel 28, the partsbeing so arranged that the roller 51 rotates at greatly reduced speedover the power shaft 14, whereby the wheel 28 will be slowly rotated.

Suitable means are provided for guiding the upper portion of the wheelduring its rotation. It is necessary that this means be so constructedthat the wheel will be held true during its rotation, so that thesimultaneous grinding of the flange and the hub may be more or lessaccurately accomplished. As shown a roller 57, having a peripheralgroove 58, see F ig. 2, for engaging the flange 30 of the wheel 28 isemployed for this purpose. The roller 57 is journalled in blocks 60slidably mounted in a pair of slotted plates 59, at each side of saidroller. These plates are rigidly secured to the lever 61 which comprisesthe lever arms 62 and ($3. The blocks 60 are adapted to be adjustedalong the plates 59 by means 64 that engage the upper surface. Springs65 are adapted to hold the block upwardly against the end. of the screw64. The arms 62 and 63 are in parallel relation and are pivoted attheirrear ends as at 66. The counter weight 67 is adapted to be attached tothe free ends of the lever arms 62 and (33, as by means of the flexiblemember 68 extending over the pulleys 69 and 71. The parts are soconstructed and arranged that the levers or lever arms 62 and 63 will beheld in either operative or inoperative position by the counterweight67.

The mechanism for grinding the flange 30 of the wheel for removingprojections and smoothing the periphery of the flange during the hubgrinding operation comprises the grinder 72 rotated transversely to thesaid flange by a motor 73 mounted on the lever arms 62 and 63. Theroller 57 constitutes a guide and gauge for the grinder 72. As thegrinder wears away or if it is desirable .to grind more material fromthe flange, the lever arms 62 and 63 are lowered by adjusting the blocks60 by means of the screw 64.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 23 differs from that shown in Figs.1 and 2 in that means are provided for rotating both of the guiderollers 51 and In thisform of the device, the shaft of the roller 52driven from the shaft of the roller 51 by gears 7 4 and 75 on saidshafts, meshing with an idler gear 76, which will cause both of saidrollers to turn in the same direction.

In the operation of the device, the wheels are placed on the track 27 atthe front of the machine with the flange engaging the upper track forholding the wheel in upright position. The wheels roll by gravity alongthe tracks into enga ement with the stop 36 from which by manipulatingthe stop, they are admitted as required to the brushing station, wherethey are cleaned by the brushing operation. After the cleaningoperation, the latch 33 is elevated which permits the wheel to roll ontothe rollers 51 and 52' which constitute the grinding station,

where the hub and flange are properly ground.

After this grinding operation, the lever arms 61 and 62 are elevated andthe wheel is pushed over the roller 52 onto the track 27 which conductsit away from the machine.

While I have disclosed my device as being operated by electric motors,it is evident that the same can be operated by any suitable powermechanism. This application is a division of application Ser. No. 3,348filed J anuary 19, 1925, which has matured in Patent No. 1,625,137 datedApril 19, 1927. i

It is thought from the foregoing that, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to' those skilled in the art, and that various changesin size, shape, proportion and details of construct-ion may be madewithout departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, wheel holding means, a pair of tracks for'holding acar wheel in upright position and guiding-the same to said means, saidmeans comprising a pair of grooved rollers in the plane of said tracksfor supporting said Wheel, means for rotating one of said rollers, agrinder member associated with one of said tracks, and adapted to bemoved into and out of engagement with the hub of said wheel, andmeansfor operating said grinder member. s

2. In combination, wheel holding means, a pair of tracks for receiving aflanged wheel for holding the same in upright position and guiding thesame to said means, means associated with one of said tracks forrotating said wheel, a frame slidably and rotatably secured to the othertrack, a grinder member on said frame, and means for rotating saidmember.

3. In combination, a wheel support, means for moving said support forrotating a wheel hereon, a guide for the upper portion of said wheel, amovable support for said guide, and a rotating grinder element mountedon said support, the axis of said element extending longitudinally ofsaid guide.

4. In combination, a wheel support comprising a pair of grooved rollersfor receiving the flange of a car wheel and for supporting said wheel,means forrotating said wheel, a supporting arm, a grinder element, meansfor mounting said grinder element on said arm, and a guide for saidelement mounted on said arm.

5. In combination, a pair of rollers for supporting a car wheel, meansfor rotating said rollers, a supporting bar adjacent to the side of saidrollers, a grinder element, a support therefore slidably and pivotallymounted on said bar, the center of gravity of said element beingoutwardly of said bar whereby on said lever for grinding the flange of awheel during its rotation on said support, the axis of said grinderbeing arranged at an angle to that of the wheel.

7 In a wheel grinding device, a support,

means for rotating the same, said support being adapted to support aflanged wheel and being provided with grooves for receiving the flangeof said wheel, a grooved roller for engaging the flange of said wheel onthe upper portion of said wheel, and means for grinding the hub andflange of said wheel while the same is rotated by saidsupport.

8. In a wheel grinder, a wheel support provided with grooves forreceiving the flange of a flanged wheel, a guide for the upper portionof the flange of said wheel, a pivoted arm, a grinder on said arm forgrinding said flange, and a counterweight for said arm.

9. In combination, a pair of rollers for supporting a car wheel, meansfor rotating one of said rollers for rotating said wheel, means forgrinding the hub of said wheel, a motor for operating said grinder, asupport for said motor and grinder, a hinge rod on which said and meansfor adjusting said motor and grinder on said rod for grinding said hub.

10. In a wheel grinding device, a frame, means for supporting a carwheel and holding the same in upright position within said frame, meansfor rotating said wheel while on said first-named means, a hub grindingelement, a supporting member extending longitudinally of said frame in aplane transverse to the axis of the wheel hub when on said first-namedmeans, and means for pivotally and slidably connecting said element tosaid member whereby when a wheel hub is being groundsaid element may bemoved to and from said hub in a plane parallel with the axis of the huband may be slid along said member in a plane transversely thereto, thecenter of gravity of said hub grinding element being outwardly of saidsupporting member whereby said element will be normally held by gravityin inoperative position. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

D. G. MULVIHILL.

